Health insurance: A love story?

A New York Times/CBS News poll released today illustrates some of the mixed feelings that complicate the already complicated health care debate.

It’s no secret that Americans love health insurers and managed-care companies with about the same degree of passion as oil and tobacco companies. But, as this latest poll and past studies have confirmed, we actually like our own health care and coverage (if we’re fortunate enough to have it). What we dislike is the health insurance industry.

Respondents were asked: “Are you generally satisified or disatisfied with the quality of the health you receive?” According to poll, 78 percent answered they were “very” or at least “somewhat” satisfied. That may speak to the fact that, in general, most patients like their doctors. When asked whether they are statisified with their health care costs, both the cost of coverage and expenses not covered by insurance, the respondents’ answers were split down the middle: 48 percent said they were “very” or “somewhat” satisfied, and 47 percent expressed that same level of disatisfaction.

That means about half the respondents are comfortable with their out-of-pocket health care expenses. They may not love shelling out an increasing amount for their share of employer-backed benefits or paying higher copayments, but they have made some sort of peace with it. The poll goes on to show general support for overhauling our health care system and, in particular, indicates a desire to cover more of the uninsured. The respondents’ answers clearly show the internal conflict people have when they say they want change, but not the kind that disrupts what they have, warts and all.